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2005 Economic Development Strategies - General
Many different agencies, councils, and organizations working through a variety of programs, have the common goal of assisting New Jersey’s agricultural community. Strengthened communication and coordination between agencies and programs can result in multiple benefits for the agricultural community.
As a new economic development initiative in 2005, the Department will be working on broad strategies and reaching out to better coordinate efforts with other agencies. In keeping with the goals outlined in its strategic plan; the Department continues to identify strategies to ensure the economic viability of the state agricultural industry as a whole.
General Strategies
11.1 Inter-Agency Coordination
94) STRATEGY – Strengthen communication between the NJDA and County Agricultural Agents to improve program coordination.
95) STRATEGY – Work to strengthen the marketing and promotional coordination of the State Agricultural Commodity Councils. Evaluate the benefits of shared resources, such as cooperative advertising or other shared resources.
96) STRATEGY – Invite representatives from other agencies to Economic Development Work Group meetings. Guest representatives could be invited from such agencies as Rutgers, Division of Travel & Tourism, Economic Development Authorities, the Commerce and Economic Growth Commission, state agency web masters etc.
11.2 New Market Opportunities List
97) STRATEGY – Maintain a current list of “New Market Opportunities.” The list could be drawn from projects within the Economic Development Work Group and disseminated directly to growers though Rutgers’ plant and pest advisory.
11.3 Assist in Addressing Labor Issues
98) STRATEGY - Continue the commitment to programs that support worker training, worker health and safety, and farm labor housing. Support reform of policies and procedures addressing temporary agricultural worker visas at the federal and state level.
11.4 Farmland Assessment and Crop Insurance
99) STRATEGY – Provide support, policy analysis, and information on farmland assessment to the Farmland Evaluation Advisory Committee, the Director of Taxation’s Farmland Assessment Committee, agricultural organizations, municipal tax assessor’s and to landowners. Update the document – New Jersey’s Farmland Assessment Act – A Primer on Basic Requirements.
100) STRATEGY Implement the New Jersey Crop Insurance Education Initiative in partnership with the Risk Management Agency USDA and Rutgers Cooperative Extension to improve the financial health of all farmers, increase their skill and knowledge in using crop insurance, and to increase crop insurance participation as additional products and programs become available.
101) STRATEGY- Actively assist farmers as an advocate with issues related to agricultural production, taxation, regulations, economic development, value-added opportunities as well as a variety of other matters that impact the long-term viability of New Jersey agriculture.
